7 Brain Hacks That Boost Productivity
“ You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.”
Productivity is the rate at which people do useful work. Often times, productivity translates into time and money. In some situations, the more productive you are, the more money you can earn. You can also save time. Just think. The time you save can be spent on anything you like, including making more money.
Unfortunately, there are many obstacles to productivity, such as a lack of focus, a lack of intention, a lack of stamina, and too many distractions, just to name a few.
Hack your brain and increase your productivity with these strategies:
1. Set an intention. Most people can’t focus because they’re not truly clear on what they want to focus on or for how long. Help yourself out by giving yourself a fighting chance and choose a specific task that you will do for a specified amount of time.
For example, you might decide you’re going to get started on that book you’ve been wanting to write. Tell yourself you’re going to work on it for one hour. Set a timer, do you best to stay focused and write your ideas for that hour duration.
Believe it or not, your brain will do its best to give you what you want if you give it clear instructions.
2. Meditate. “Brilliant things happen in calm minds.” When your brain is calm, you’re in control. A calm brain helps to illuminate the paths you need to take to help you accomplish the goals you set out to do. The vehicle to help you attain that calm mind is meditation. Meditation will also help you build focus. And because it is incredibly popular right now, there is plenty of free information on how to meditate effectively. Educate yourself and get started. It’s simple and effective.
3. Take regular breaks. I am a Work from Home employee. And if you’re like me, I get so immersed in my work that I often forget to take breaks. While I am being productive, not taking breaks can work against your productivity in the long run – whether in the form of getting burned out faster or your body starts to ache because it’s been in the same sitting position for the last six hours. Change this! Experiment with break frequency and duration. The best option for most people is either 25 minutes of work followed by a five-minute break, or if you think that’s too soon, try 50 minutes of work followed by a 10-minute break. Discover what works best for you and then stick with it. Timers can be powerful tools!
4. Avoid giving in to temptation. Most of us give in to the temptation of distraction far too easily. It’s a very difficult habit to break. We quickly go from feeling bored or stressed to amused. Hey! Who doesn’t want to check what’s going on in Insta or perhaps check your email when you’ve got a few minutes in between meetings? There may be something interesting there!
The most productive people are able to overcome the urge to break their attention from their work task.
It’s important to avoid these distractions during your breaks, too. It’s too hard to get back on task, and your breaktime magically extends from five minutes to 25. Learn how to say “no” to your urges.
5. Alternate high and low-focus tasks. Many people report greater productivity when they alternate between cognitively intense activities and those that require less intellectual effort. It’s similar to interval training in the gym.
I like to refer to this as “low hanging fruit”. Lower-level activities might include returning calls and emails, or other routine work. The lower-level activities need to be done, but don’t require much effort (or brain power), thereby giving your brain a rest and the chance to recover. Soon, it’s ready for another round of more intense activity.
6. Drink plenty of water. Most people are partially dehydrated. The solution is to drink plenty of water. That doesn’t mean you have to be chugging 20 ounces of water every hour. But, a 20-ounce bottle of water every few hours would be beneficial to most.
Did you know that so many metabolic processes require water and that you are not at your best if you’re dehydrated?
7. Develop a positive mindset. “Positive thoughts can change your whole day and positive mindset can change your whole life” A positive outlook on life makes you more productive. Have you ever set out to do something where your mind was set that you were going to succeed no matter what? If so, you know how strong and powerful a positive mindset can be. Studies show that mindset affects productivity. So, work on having a positive outlook and watch how you begin to accomplish more each day. You’ll also be a lot happier.
Productivity should be important to everyone. Time is your most valuable asset, so do what you can to maximize it. We can all be more productive, but it doesn’t happen by magic. You have to work at it. Groom it. It must be a priority if you want to see real results. Dedicate yourself to maximizing your productivity. Give your brain every chance to be your ally on this important journey.
